Got Tuition?

There’s no time like the present to start preparing for what will soon be an eventuality; and there’s no better way to do it than to tap into some resources that will guide you along the way as painlessly as possible. If you’ve been laying awake at night worrying about tuition, why not take one of the following books to bed instead:

• Education Planning: Taxes, Trusts, and Techniques (Nancy Shurtz) is described as being an invaluable, in-depth resource for the estate and tax planning strategies and vehicles available for families saving for higher education. While focusing on all aspects of the popular 529 plans, the author also provides information on all other savings options, including 529 prepaid plans, Coverdell Educational Savings Accounts, qualified savings bonds, UGMAs/UTMAs, trusts, insurance, financial aid, grants, scholarships, and loans. It compares and contrasts techniques and applies them to different income groups. Also includes numerous planning tips, charts, and examples.
• The Best Ways to Save for College : A Comprehensive Guide to State-Sponsored College Savings Plans and Prepaid Tuition Contracts (Joseph F. Hurley) may be the source for you if you’re trying to understand how Read the rest of this entry »

If you or your teenager is beginning their college search, there are probably many questions you are pondering, most of them related to finances. One thing is certain, college tuition is going anywhere but down. If the numbers you see on university websites seem daunting, don’t immediately write off college as an option. In today’s society, a college education is a necessary and immeasurable asset for the future. There are various different opportunities for receiving tuition assistance; you just have to know where to look. The Department of Education offers several different forms of aid for college students, and understanding each one is the first step in the process.GrantsThe Federal government offers a number of grants for college-seeking students such as the Pell Grant, and the Academic Competitiveness Grant. Money given in the form of a grant or scholarship does not have to be repaid but often comes with certain stipulations such as maintaining a certain GPA. In addition to federal grants, most colleges offer their own form of grants based on need an achievement. Read the rest of this entry »